Automatic film processor for dental x-ray film

ABSTRACT

A processor for developing batches of dental X-ray film chips include a film transport unit comprised of a pair of laterally disposed, vertically spaced, parallel walls forming a continuously curved channel with three loops. The downwardly extending curved portions of the loops respectively extend into tanks in the development compartment of the processor. A lower lifter is mounted to rotate in each downwardly extending curved portion of the continuous channel, and an upper lifter is mounted to rotate in each upwardly extending curved portion of the continuous channel. The inside surfaces of the pair of walls are provided with opposing vee-grooves which form a path for engaging the opposite edges of a vertically disposed film chip. The flim chip is permitted to drop by gravity along the downwardly extending portions of its path and is lifted by the lower and upper rotating lifters along the upwardly extending portions of its path.

May 6, 1975 United States Patent [1 1 Zwettler AUTOMATIC FILM PROCESSORFOR DENTAL X-RAY FILM ABSTRACT ping batches of dental X-ray transportunit comprised of a d, vertically spaced, parallel uously curved channelwith mm mfi d .mm m wi S mw h we m Am pair of laterally dispose wallsforming a contin [22] Filed:

[21] App]. No.: 394,536

three loops. The downwardly extending curved portions of the loopsrespectively extend into tanks in the ment of the processor. A lowertate in each downwardly extendthe continuous channel, and an upperlifter is mounted to rotate in each upwardly extending curved portion ofthe continuous channel. The inside surfaces of the pair of walls areprovided with t f mmo pmn m 0 0 0 cmm n mm m m mhmu ETC w ef dh.m 90 930R3 3 3 /7 419 5 xon MG H 3 u 7 M M 5 m9m 3 M 6 ..1 WW mmm2 au mun:MWMO .u 11 m3 mum u 7 mu&9 F B l 04 Cfl UIF ll] 2 00 555 [[l.

[56] References Cited opposing vee-grooves which form a path forengaging the opposite edges of a vertically disposed film chip. p bygravity along the R 4 9 N 9 sm T m NM E m T N m P" m mm SS D .E6 fin NHU2 m m 0 2 The flim chip is permitted to dro downwardly extendingportions 3,559,554 2/1971 Schmidt..... 95/94 R X 3,689,063 9/l972Schmidt..... 95/94 R X 3,712,206

of its path and is lifted g lifters along the upwardly extendingportions of its path.

by the lower and upper rotatin 1/1973 Schmidt..........................95/89 R X Primary ExaminerFred L. Braun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John T.Matlago 9 Chums 22 Drawmg F'gures PATENTEDHAY ems SHEET 10F 6 PATENTEDMAY 6 i975 /V/ /V/ I tie-82.525

SHEET 5 OF 6 P/UENTED MAY 75 SHEEI 6 OF 6 IIIIA I I I f 1 AUTOMATIC FILMPROCESSOR FOR DENTAL X-RAY FILM This invention relates to filmprocessing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus forautomatically processing X-ray film chips.

There are many instances when the frequent processing of batches ofexposed X-ray film chips is necessary, one of these being in a dentistsoffice. Since the time of the dentist and his assisting nurse is takenup with caring for the patient, it is not only inconvenient butsometimes impossible for them to attend to the development of such filmchips. There is thus a need for apparatus to automatically developbatches of X-ray film chips in a dentist office as quickly as possibleand with a minimum of supervision on the part of the dentist or hisassisting nurse.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to providean automatic dental X-ray film chip machine for simultaneouslydeveloping a plurality of exposed film chips.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means forautomatically simultaneously transporting a plurality of film chipsthrough successive tanks required for their development without havingto contact the surface of the dental film chips.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means fortransporting film chips along continuously curved paths leading throughsuccessive tanks in the development compartment of a film processor bypermitting the film chips to drop by gravity along downwardly extendingportions of the paths and providing means for lifting the film chipsalong the upwardly extending portions of the paths.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel meansfor timing the feeding of film chips into a processor and for advancingthe film chips through successive tanks in the processor for the purposeof the development thereof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of theconstruction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of thedevice whereby the objects contemplated are obtained as hereinafter setforth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the components forming the film processorof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the magazine;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the film processor of the present inventionwith the front wall of the housing cover and portions of the walls ofthe tanks cut away;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the magazine as taken on line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view as taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the exit passage of the channel for thefilm chips as taken on line 66 in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a detail as taken on line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross sectional view of the film processor as takenon line 8-8 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross sectional view of the film processor as takenon line 99 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 10is a sectional view showing the rotating upper lifter used foradvancing film chips to a succeeding tank as taken on line 10-10 in FIG.3;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a rotating lower lifter used foradvancing a film chip out of a tank;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the film processor as takenon line 12-12 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the film transport unit showing the gear traindrive therefor as taken on line 13-13 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a plan sectional view of the processor as taken on line 14-14in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a partial sectional view illustrating the setting of themagazine to enable the film chips therein to be dropped into the channelof the transport unit at the proper time of the cyclical operationthereof; and

FIGS. 16-22 illustrate the manner in which the transport unit operatesto advance the film chips along their respective paths through thesuccessive tanks of the film processor.

Referring to the drawings, the dental film chip processor 10 of thepresent invention is shown to include a film chip transport unit 11comprised of a molding having a vertical rearwall 12 with laterallyextending, spaced, parallel outer and inner curved walls 14 and 16,respectively, forming a channel with three downwardly extending loopportions. Thus, as indicated in FIG. 3, the channel formed by the outerand inner walls 14 and 16 comprises a vertical entrance passage 24leading down into a first lower semicircular portion 25 which swings upinto a vertical portion 26 leading into a first upper semicircularportion 27. The first upper semicircular portion 27 then swings downinto a vertical portion 28 leading down into a second lower semicircularportion 29 which swings up into vertical portion 30 leading into asecond upper semicircular portion 31. The second upper semicircularportion 31 then swings down into a vertical portion 32 leading into athird lower semicircular portion 33 which swings up into a verticalportion 34 leading into an upper quartercircular portion 35 that leadsinto a horizontal exit passage 36.

The opposing surfaces of the channel formed by the outer and innercurved walls 14 and 16 have a plurality of vee-grooves 18 and 19,respectively, extending along the length thereof parallel to therearwall 12. Pairs of opposing vee-grooves 18 and 19 in the channeldefine eight parallel chip paths. Each pair of vee-grooves 18 and 19engages opposite edges of a small, stiff chip of film 22 being advancedthrough the transport unit 11. It should thus be clear that each filmchip 22 is disposed along a path of the transport unit 11 so that itsplane is parallel to the rearwall 12, such as illustrated in FIG. 6.

A rotating lower lifter 40 is mounted on the center of each of the lowersemicircular portions 25, 29 and 33 of the channel. As shown in FIG. 11,each lower lifter 40 comprises a front member 41 with laterallyextending arms 42 and 43. The center of the front member 41 is providedwith a square opening 45 by which it is mounted on the square front end46 of a plastic molded cylinder 48 so that the arms 42 and 43 extendacross the channels adjacent the inner surface of the outer wall 14thereof. The cylinder 48 is integrally formed with a gear 49 on the rearend thereof. A steel pin 51 extending through the cylinder 48 has therear end thereof secured with a tight fit on the rear wall 12 of thefilm transport unit 11 F G. 14 A lock washer s2 is provided on the frontend of pin 51. The cylinder 48 together with the lower lifter 40 lockedthereto is rotated on the pin 51 by driving the gear 49 integrallyformed thereon. As-shown in FIG. 3, the vertical portions of the innerwall 16 of the channel above each of the lower lifters 40 and in linewith the paths of the rotating arms 42 and 43 are provided with slots 54and 55 to permit the arms 42 and 43 to cycle therethrough when rotated.1 r V 'A rotating upper lifter is mounted on the center of each theuppersemicircular portions 27 and 31 and the quartercircular portion 35'of the channel. As

shown inFIG. 10, each upper lifter 60 comprises a front member 61 with alaterally extending arm-62. A

shaft 63 is mounted to rotate on respective front and rear bushings 64and 65 secured on the center of each the upper semicircular portions andthe quartercircular "vertical portions of the outer wall 14 of thechannel below each upper lifter 60 andin line with the pathof xits'arrn62areprovided with slots 68 and 69 to enable the arm 62 to cycletherethrough as it is rotated.

It should now be clear that each of the lower lifters I40 has a pair ofdiametrically disposed arms 42 and 43 [that project across the chippaths in the channel, and

" 7 each of the upper lifters 60 has a single arm 62 that projectsacross the chip paths in the channel. As will be describedhereinafter,the lower and upper lifters 40 and 60 cooperate tov raisethe film chips 22 along .the

' rising portions of the paths of the loops formed by the channel. g

'As shown in FIG. 13, a gear train for lower lifters 40 and upperlifters '60 is provided on the back of the rearwall 12 of the transportunit 11. A middle large gear 127 attached to a shaft 128 journalled onthe rearwall 12 is driven by a gear 117 coupled to a motor 115 (FIG.14). The end of shaft 128 which extends through the rearwall 12, asshown in FIG. 12, has'a small gear 129 secured thereon which drives thesmall gear 49 intregally formed on the inner end of cylinder 48 of themid- A 1 dlelowerlifter40. The-middle large gear 127 drives an idlergear 131 journalled on the back of rearwall 12' which in 'turn'drivesthe small gear 67 on the end of the shaft63of theifirst upper lifter 60.The small gear 67, in turn, drives anidler gear 132 which drives a'largegear 139 attached to .a shaft 77 that extends through and is joumalledon the'rearwall 12. A small gear 146 secured to shaft 77 drives the gear49 integrally formed on the inner end of cylinder 48'of the third lowerlifter 40. The large gear 139 also drives an idler gear 141 which drivesthe small gear 142 on the shaft 63 of the third'upperlifter'60. Itshould be noted that the large gears 133, 127 and 139 associated withthe respective drives for the first, second and third lower lifters 40are all of'the same size and driven at the same speed. Likewise, thesmall gears 67, 70 and 142 which drive the respective first, second andthird upper lifters 60 are all of the same size and driven at the samespeed. Furthermore, these large gears'have a ratio of 1:4 to these smallgears. Consequently, each of the upper lifters 60 rotates four times fora single rotation of the lower lifters 40. a

As shown in FIG. 1, an elongated sidebar 71 is attach'ed to the'upperfront edge of the transport unit 1 1.

gear 133. Large gear 133 is attached to a shaft 134 j which isjournalled on a bushing 130 that extends throughand is fixed to therearwall 12, (FIG. 8). A

small gear 135 secured on shaft 134 (FIG. 12) drives the small gear 49integrally formed on the inner end of cylinder 48 of the first. lowerlifter 40. It should be noted that a rotating cam 136 havingdiametrically opposed side surfaces 140a and 140b is provided with a 5square opening 143 in the center thereof by which it is mounted on asquare projection 144 formed on the hub of large gear 133. The cam 136is thus simultaneously driven by the large gear 133 which drives thefirst lower lifterq40. The middle large gear 127 also drives an idlergear 137 which in turn drives asmall gear 70 on the shaft 63 of middleupper lifter 60. The small gear 70,

A. molded top member 73 is provided with depending longitudinal sides 74and 75 that straddle theupper edges of the rearwall 12 and the sidebar71when the top member 73 is positioned thereover (see FIGS. 5 and 7). Thetop member 73 is secured in position by screws 76.

A rectangularly shaped receiver 81 for a magazine 82 is formed on theleft end of the top member 73. The receiver 81 has a rectangular openingon the left and an elongated slot 86 on the right portion thereof. Theopening 80 is aligned with the vertical entrance passage 24 into thechannel. The magazine 82 is provided with opening 80 in the top member73 in alignment withthe respective pairs of vee-grooves 18 and 19 in theopposing walls of the channel.

A flat,rectangular gate mamber 84'is disposed in recess 85 (FIG. 5)provided on the underside of the receiver 81 formed on the top member73. An indicating pin 93 secured on the upper surface of the gate member84 extends through the elongated slot 86 and indicates the movementthereof relative to the receiver. A vertical extension 91 on the backside of the gate member 84 is provided with a pin 187. A spring 188having one end attached to the rearwall 12 of the transport unit 11 andthe other end attached to the extension 91 normally holds the gatemember 84toward the left to close the entrance passage 24 to thechannel. The rotating cam 136 is attached to shaft 134 and is thussynchronized to rotate with the lower lifter 40 associated with thefirst lower semicircular portion 25 of'the channel. As the cam 136rotates, the side surface 140a or in turn, drives an idler gear 138which drives a large 14% thereof contacts the pin 187 on the extension91 and forces the gate member 84 to slide to the right. This serves toopen the gate, i.e., unblock the rectangular opening 80 so that the filmchips 22 stored in parallel relative to each other in the slots 83 ofthemagazine 82 are simultaneously dropped down into the channel. After theside surface 140a or 14% of cam 136 rotates past the pin 187, the gatemember 84 is released and pulled back by the'spring 188 to close thegate. The gate member 84 is thus slideable from a position over theentrance passage 24 of the channel to a position to the right, as shownin FIG. 15, to control the dropping of film chips 22 from the magazine82 into the respective paths defined by the opposing vee-grooves 18 and19 provided on the inner and outer walls. Note that the vee-grooves 18and 19 on the opposing walls of the channel are sufficiently spaced sothat the film chips 22 released from the magazine 82 are able to freelymove mately two-thirds of the left front corner portion thereof and withsmaller rectangularly shaped depressions 89 on the remaining cornerportions thereof. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, rubber pads are glued onthe bottom surface of each of the small depressions 89 and on the leftfront corner of the large depression 88 to prevent the base 87 fromsliding.

Disposed on the base 87 is a partition 101 formed of a single sheet ofsteel bent to form a rearwall 102, a left sidewall 103 and a rightsidewall 104. The lower edges of these walls are bent outwardly to formflanges which rest against the upper surfaces of the base and aresecured thereto by screws, such as the flange 105 of the left sidewall103 which is secured by screws 106. The sidewalls 103 and 104 togetherwith the rearwall 102 form a developer compartment. A rectangularopening 125 is provided in the sidewall 104. Disposed near the right endof the base 87 is a sidewall 107 formed of a sheet of steel providedwith a flange on the lower edge thereof by which it is secured to thebase. A rectangular exit opening 126 for the developed film chips 22 isprovided on the sidewall 107 in line with the rectangular opening 125provided on the sidewall 104. A short rearwall 108 disposed across theupper rear edges of g the sidewalls 104 and 107 has side flanges 109 bywhich it is welded to the sidewalls. Rearwall 108 and sidewalls 104 and107 form a drying compartment.

Extending from the left and right inner surfaces of sidewalls 103 and104 of the partition 101 are vertically disposed support lugs 110 and111 which serve to support the film transport unit 11 relative to therectangular opening 125 in sidewall 104 leading into the dryingcompartment. As shown in FIG. 14, the partition 101 has the motor 115for the film transport unit 11 mounted on the back thereof. The motor115 is coupled to shaft 116 which protrudes through an opening in therearwall 102 of the developer compartment and has the power gear 117secured on the end thereof. The rearwall 108 of the drying compartmenthas a motor 119 for a roller drive unit 112 mounted on the back thereof.The motor 119 is coupled to a shaft 120 which protrudes through anopening in the rearwall 108 and has a power gear 121 secured on the endthereof.

Prior to assembling the transport unit 11 on the base 87, threerectangular plastic tanks 122, 123 and 124 are positioned side-by-sidein the well 88 formed in the base 87 of the developer compartment. Tank122 is for a developer solution, tank 123 is for a fixing solution andtank 124 is for a rinsing solution.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a recess 78 is provided on the inner surfacesof either longitudinalend of the depending side 74 of the top member 73disposed adjacent the rearwall 12. It should be further noted that therearwall 12 is divided by slots 57 and 58 (FIG. 13) into three sectionswhich fitinto the three tanks 122, 123, and 124, respectively, when thetransport unit 11 is lowered into the developer compartment. Eachsection has a lower contour which conforms with the curvature of outerwall 14 and is provided'with openings 59. When'fully seated, the leftend of the top member 73 rests on the top edge of the sidewall 103 andthe recesses 78 on the ends of the depending side 74 of the top member73 engage the lugs and 111 on the opposite sidewalls 103 and 104 of thepartition 101. The lugs 110 and 111 thus provide for properlypositioning and holding the film transport unit 11 in place so that theexit passage 36 of its channel is properly aligned with the rectangularopening 125 in the sidewall 104 leading to the drying compartment. Whenso positioned the large gear 127 on the back of the rearwall 12 engagesthe power gear 117 mounted on the rearwall 102 of the partition.

Mounted on the base of the drying compartment are supports for a motor98 which drives a fan 150, (FIG. 9). A heater device 147 which comprisesa rectangular frame 148 with a plurality of heating coils 149 extendingthereacross rests on ledges 151 and 152 provided on the inside surfaceof the respective sidewalls 107 and 104. The heater device 147 is thuspositioned above the fan and secured in place by screws 153. Positionedto rest on the top of the heating device 147 is a roller drive unit 1 12for the film chips 22. The roller drive unit 112 includes front and rearplates 156 and 157 held together at their corners by bolts 160. Fivesets of transversely disposed upper rollers 158 and lower rollers 159are rotatably mounted on respective shaft portions 154 and 155 thereofjournalled on the front and rear plates 156 and 157. The upper and lowerrollers 158 and 159 are plastic moldings and are formed with eightvee-grooves 173 and 174, respectively (FIG. 9). The upper and lowerrollers 158 and 159 of each set are spaced so as to tightly engagewithin each pair of the vee-grooves 173 and 174 the edges of avertically disposed film chip 22 passing therethrough. The successivesets of rollers are spaced lengthwise along the paths so that a portionof the edges of the film chips 22 are always in contact with a pair ofthe veegrooves 173 and 174 on the upper and lower rollers, respectively.As shown in FIG. 13, the gear train for the roller drive unit 112 islocated on the back of the gear plate 157. The gear train comprises anupper gear 161 on the end of the shaft portion 154 of each of the upperrollers 158 and a lower gear 162 on the end of the shaft portion 155 ofeach of the lower rollers 159. The upper gears 161 and lower gears 162are of the same size. Each upper gear 161 is engaged with the adjacentupper gear 161 by an upper idler gear 163 and each of the lower gears162 is engaged with the adjacent lower gear 162 by a lower idler gear164. Each of the upper idler gears 163 is positioned so that it engagesone of the lower idler gears 164. An input drive gear 165 (FIG. 9) issecured on the same shaft portion as the middle upper gear 161. When theroller drive unit 112 is positioned in the drying chamber above theheater device 147, the input drive gear 165 engages the large power gear121 mounted on the rear wall 108. It is thus seen that when the powergear 121 is rotated by motor 119 all the upper and lower rollers 158 and159 are simultaneously rotated to advance the vertically disposed fullydeveloped film chips 22 being held edgewise between the respective pairsof vee-grooves 173 174 thereof. The film chips are advanced by theroller drive unit through the drying chamber and out the rectangularopening 126 provided on the sidewall 107.

7 Its'should 'be noted that a box-like enclosure-176 is provided on theupper front portion of the drying com:

I partment. An on-off switch 180 and a rheostat 177 for controlling thespeed of motor 1 is located withinthe enclosure 176 (FIG. 9). Asideprojec'tion95 is attached to the outer surface of sidewall 103 and'aside projection 96 is attached to the inner surface of side 1 wall 107just above an accessopening 97 provided on V the sidewall 107. Theoperator of the processorcan lift the v base "87 with Y the componentparts assembled thereon :by placing his fingers underneath these side II projections. g

. When poweris applied to the processor 10 by closing; v the on-offswitch 180, the gearftrain on the transport 5 :unit 11 is driven. Thiscauses the rotating cam 136 to rotate 'in synchronism with the'steady'rotation of the lower lifters 40 and the upper lifterss60 so'th atevery, half cycle of rotation of the lower lifter 40 its side sur face140;: or 14012 contacts the pm 187 on the exten sion 91' and drives thegate member 84 to the right so that the left edge of the gate member 84clears the rect- After the parts shown in FIG. 1 have been assembled on.the base 87 and the respective tanks 122, 123 and 124. have been filledwith their solution to the level in dicatedin' FIG. 12, a housing cover166 is positioned thereov'er to rest on a ledge 167 provided about theperiphery of the base Q 87. The topof the housing cover 166 is providedwith a rectangular opening 168 near theleft end'thereof to permit themagazine receiver 81 angular opening 80-leading to the entrance passage24 of the channel. If the stopping plate 175 is still in its left handposition at thetime the rotating cam 136 moves the gate member 84 to therightQthe film chips 22 in .thej magazine 82 are prevented fromdroppingout of the magazine. However; if at thistime the stoppingplate175 has been moved by thepost 185to its right hand position,the filmchips 22 will simultaneously drop to project'therethrough. The'housingcover 166 is also s 2 provided with a hole 181 near the right top endthereof to permit a knob 178 to be secured to the shaft 179 of v the,rheostat 177 extending therethrough. The knob 178 can be rotated toadjust the rheostat 176 and thus control the rpm of motor 115 whichdrives the gear train for advancing the upper and lower lifters 40 and V60, respectively. In this manner the operator can adjust" 1 the periodof time that the film chips 22 remain in the developer tank 122. Itshould also be noted that an provided on the back surface of the housingcover 166 opposite the fan 15 0 and air exhaust holes 170 are providedat the top of the housing-cover' 166 above the fan Y 150 In addition, anopening 171 is provided on the right sideof the housing'cover 166 inline with the opening ,126 in the sidewall 107. g V 'A furtherdescription of the magazine ,82 will next be presented. The magazine'82is comprised of a molding,

' having'eight parallel slots83 on the left portion thereof forreceiving as many as eight exposed x-ray film chips 22. Slideably heldbeneath the magazine 82 (FIG. 5) so as to contact the shoulders 172 onthe rear and front thereof is a film stopping plate 175. The stoppingplate has a ledge 183 on the left side edge thereof and an elongatedslot 184 extending parallel to the sides and midway'thereof Recesses 182are provided on the rear and front side edges of the film stopping plate175 to i receivepins 191 which retain the plate 175 on the bot "opening186 is provided on the top of housing cover I 166 to provide access tothe on-off switch 180. It "should be further noted that air intake holes169 are sion 91, soas to clear the entrance passage 24, the film fromthe magazine 82 into the respective pairs of vee- I grooves 18 and 19 onthe opposing .walls ofzthe en-b trance passage 24 of the channel.

In orderhto ensure that the film chips are dropped into the entrancepassage 24 of the channel atfthe proper'time, the stopping plate 175is'initially moved to its left hand position to preventthefilm chipsf22from dropping during'the loading of the magazine. The operator thenobserves the indicating pin 93 ongthe upper surface of the film gatemember 84 as it moves along the elongated slot 184. An arrow 190 ismarked along' the elongated slot 184 to indicate the rangejn which thepin 93 can be located so that the operator of the rotating cam 136hitting the pin 187- on its exten-.

chips22 'will all simultaneously drop down into the channel, asillustratedin FIG. 16.

.It should be noted that the indicating pin" 93 moves slowly to theright when either side surface, 140a or.

14012 of rotating cam 136 contacts the pm 187 on the extension 91 of thegatemember 84. Then when the side surface of cam 136 clears the pin 187,the gate member 84 is quickly returned back to the left bythe spring 188to close the entrance passage 24 into the channel. Y

, It should thus be clear that if the stopping plate 175 V I were to bepushed to the right to open up the magazine 1' 82 whilethe gate member84 is likely to be snapping tom of the magazine 82 .while permitting itto be moved horizontally thereto. The magazine 82 is positioned in i thereceiver 81 with the indicating pin 93 on the upper surface of gatemember 84 extending up into the slot l84.-When the filmstopping plate175 is moved to its left'hand position; the ledge 183 on the leftsideedge thereof extends beneath the right end of the slots 83 in themagazine 82 thus preventing film chips22 in the slotsfrom dropping outof magazine 82. A vertical post I 185 on the top surface of thesto'pping plate 175 is used [to shift the stopping plate 175 between itsleft hand and right hand positions It should thus be clear that when thefilm stopping plate 175 is moved by the post 185 to its left handposition, the magazine 82 can be loaded by 3 are fed into the entrancepassage 24 of the channel in properly timed relationshipwith the steadyrotation of I the lifters in the "transport unit 11 and are then ad-:

7 vanced by the liftersalong their paths through each of V placingfilmchips22 in'the respective slots 83 thereof.

back to its left hand position,.,the film chips 22 falling from themagazine 82'mightbe damaged. I Reference will next be made to FIGS. 15to 22 to morefully describe jthe manner in which film chips 22 thesuccessive tanks. 122,123, and 124,and then 7 through the exit passage36 into the drying compartment. g it H V The processor'lO provides forbeing able to load the magazine 82 with a batch of film chips 22 whilepower is supplied to the motors and 119. Thus upon switching the on-offswitch to its on position, the

powertrain for driving the upper and lower lifters 40 and 60,respectively, is energized, causing these lifters to slowly rotate. Withthe stopping plate 175 positioned to the left such that its ledge 183prevents the film chips from dropping out of the magazine, the magazinecan then be loaded with a first batch of film chips. It should be notedthat the three lower lifters 40 are all synchronized to steadily rotatewith a similar angular orientation, and that the three upper lifters 60are, likewise, all synchronized to steadily rotate with a similarangular orientation. However, as previously described, the upper lifters60 rotates four times faster than the lower lifters 40. Thus each timethat the lower lifters 40 rotate 90 the upper lifters 60 rotate 360.

The lower lifters 40 rotate in a counterclockwise direction and theupper lifters 60 rotate in a clockwise direction. Thus, when the firstlower lifter 40 is disposed in a horizontal position with its arm 42below the vertical entrance passage 24 and its arm 43 below the verticalportion 26, the first upper lifter 60 is starting to move downwardly inthe upper semicircular portion 27, as shown in FIG. 12. Furthermore, forthis orientation of the lower lifters 40, the rotating earn 136 which iscoupled to be driven in a clockwise direction by the same large gear 133that drives the first lower lifter 40 has its side surface 140a juststarting to contact the pin 187 on the extension 91 of the gate member84. At this instant, the indicating pin 93 is in its extreme leftposition in slot 184. As the gear train advances, the rotating cam 136causes the pin 93 to move to the right until it reaches the regionindicated by arrow 190 (FIG. 4). The operator can then move the stoppingplate 175 to its right hand position by the use of post 185 asillustrated in FIG. 15. Note that the gate member 84 has not yet beendriven by the cam 136 sufficiently to the right to open the gate.However, when the gate member 84 has been driven to the position shownin FIG. 16, the gate is opened and the first batch of film chips dropinto the entrance passage 24 and down into the bottom portion of thefirst tank 122. It should be noted in FIG. 16, that by the time thelower lifter 40 has rotated 90 to the vertical position shown, the upperlifter 60 has rotated 360. Moreover, by the time the lower lifter 40 hasrotated another 90, as shown in FIG. 17, the upper lifter has rotatedanother 360. It should now be evident that the lower lifter 40 is onceagain in a horizontal position but this time its arm 43 is below thevertical entrance passage 24 and its arm 42 is below the verticalportion 26. It should be noted that once the first batch of film chips22 have been dropped out of the magazine, the operator can shift thestopping plate 175 to its left hand position and reload the magazinewith a second batch of film chips 22. The operator can then again pushthe stopping plate 175 to its right hand position when the indicatingpin 93 is within range of the arrow 190.

Thus as the lower lifter 40 again rotates to a vertical position, asshown in FIG. 18, the cam 136 again advances, but this time with itsside surface 140]) in contact with pin 187, to open the gate thusenabling the second batch of film chips 22 in the magazine to drop downinto the entrance passage way 24.

It should be noted, as shown in FIG. 18, that the lower lifter arms 42and 43 are purposely made wide enough to separate the successive batchesof film chips so that their surfaces do not contact each other. In themeantime, as the first lower lifter rotated 90 from its position in FIG.17 to its position in FIG. 18, the first upper lifter 60 is againrotated 360. As the first lifter 40 rotates an additional degrees, asshown in FIG. 19, it lifts the first batch of film chips up out of thefirst tank 122 and, as shown in FIG. 20, as the first lower lifter 40continues to lift the first batch of film chips 22, the first upperlifter 60 swings around to take over and thus continue the lifting ofthese film chips over the first upper semicircular portion 27 of thechannel causing them to drop down into the second tank 123, as shown inFIG. 21. In the meantime, and simultaneously with the lifting of thefirst batch of film chips out of the first tank 122 and the advancing ofthem so that they drop into the second tank 123, a third batch of filmchips can be stored in the magazine by the operator and caused to bedropped down into the first tank, as shown in FIG. 21.

It should now be clear that the reason the upper lifters 60 rotate fourtimes faster than the lower lifters 40 is because the lower lifter 40has two diametrically disposed arms 42 and 43 for transporting filmchips whereas the upper lifter 60 only has one arm 62. Furthermore, itis important that the lower lifter 40 is always in a vertical positionwhen the film chips are dropped into a tank so as to permit the filmchips to drop down into the lower portion of the tank so as to be fullycovered by the solution therein.

After the film chips are lifted out of the last tank 124 by the lifters40 and 60 associated therewith, the film chips are directed through thequartercircular portion 35 of the channel by the associated upper lifter60 and on into the exit passage 36 where the film chips are then engagedby the upper and lower rollers 158 and 159 of the roller drive unit 112.The fully developed film chips upon being dried then emerge out of theopening 171 provided in the housing cover 166.

It should now be evident that the use of vee-grooves 18 and 19 to guidethe film chips 22 along the chip paths and the use of the lower lifters40 and the upper lifters 60 to lift the film chips 22 along the risingportions of these paths assures that only the edges of the film chipsare in sliding contact with the transport unit 11 so as not to damagethe emulsion on the surface of the film chips. It should be furtherevident that the film chips are controlled to move in steps along thechip paths provided by the transport unit 11, stopping for apredetermined period of time in the bottom portion of each of the tanks.

Although the description herein has been concerned with a particularlyillustrative embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention issubject to various modifications in both the construction andarrangement thereof without departing from the spirit thereof. Theinvention, therefore, should be considered as including all possiblemodifications and variations coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. A processor for film chips comprising:

a series of tanks;

transport means including a rear vertical wall having a pair ofparallel, spaced, walls laterally extending therefrom, said spaced wallshaving curved portions thereof extending down into and up out of eachsaid tanks and curved portions thereof extending from each tank overinto the succeeding tank;

i a lower laterally extending arm'having a radial member mounted forrotation about an axis disposed normal to the rear vertical wall andsubstantially at the center of each curved portion of the spaced wallsextending down into and up out of each of said tanks; and a an .upperlaterally extending arm having a radialmember mounted for rotation aboutan axis dis- Y posed normal to the rear vertical wall and substantiallyat the center of each curved portion of the spaced walls extending froma tank over into a succeeding tank; each said lowertarm synchronized torotate with an upper arm so that when said lower arm lifts film chipsalongtheir paths out of a tank the upper arm continues to lift the filmchips and transfers them alongtheir paths into the succeeding tank. 2.'Aprocessor for dental film chips comprising: a development compartment, aseries'oftanks in said development compartment,

: a channel formed of a pair of laterally extending, parallel, spacedwalls having lower curved portions extending down into and out of eachof said tanks and upper curved portions extending from each tank to thesucceeding tank,

"a plurality of vee-grooves formed on the opposing surfaces of saidspaced walls, each vee-groove on one, wall associatedwith a vee-g-rooveon the opposite wall to form a pair of opposing vee-grooves lying in thesame vertical plane forming a path 5 through the channel for avertically oriented film a lower lifter mounted for rotation about anaxis substantially at the center of each lower curved portion of thechannel extending down into and out of I each of said tanks, and

an upper lifter mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at thecenter of each upper curved portion ofthe channel extending from eachtank to a succeeding tank, g each said lower lifter timedto rotatewithan upper lifter so that when said lower lifter lifts film chipsalong their paths out of a tank the upper lifter con- V tinues to liftthe filmchips and transfers them along their paths into thesucceedingtank.

, v "3. The invention accordance with claim 2 includa dryingcompartment,

along paths extending in parallel through said drying compartment, Vsaid roller drive assembly comprising plurality of sets of spaced upperand lower rollers, each said rollerhaving a plurality of vee-groovesthereon, each vee-groove on the upper roller being "associated with avee-grooveron the lower roller to "form a pair of opposing vee-grooves,and each said roller rotatably mounted to rotate on an axis nor- 7 malto the paths of advancement of said film chips,

i a roller drive assembly for advancing said film chips the spacingofsuccessive sets of said rollers along said paths being less than thelength of a film chip, and

each pair of opposing vee-grooves on the upper and lower'rollersproviding for engaging the upper and lower edges of a film chip tothereby simultaneously advance the film chips which have .been

- transferred in parallel into said roller drive assembly by the upperlifter associated with the last tank in the series of tanks in saiddevelopment compartment'.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3 includmg an upper gear, onthe end of each of said upper rollers,

a lower gear on the end of each of said lower rollers, an upper idlergear for coupling adjacent upper gears together, i V a lower idler gearfor coupling adjacent lower gears together, v a each said upper idlergear being further coupled to engage a lower idler gear, and i a powergear coupled to engage a gear on the end of said rollers. i r 5. Aprocessor for dental film chips comprising:

a development compartment,

a series of tanks in said development compartment,

a channel formed of a pair of laterally extending, parallel, spacedwalls having lower curved portions extending down into and out of eachof said tanks and upper curved portions extending from each tank to thesucceeding tank, v a plurality of vee-grooves formed on the opposingsurfaces of said spaced walls, each ve'e-groove on one wall associatedwith a vee-groove on the opposite wall to form a pair of opposingvee-grooves, each pair of opposing vee-grooves onfsaid spaced wallslying in the same vertical plane forming a path through the channel fora vertically oriented film chip, Y Y I i r a lower lifter mounted toswing through each lower curved portion of the channel extending downinto and out of each of said tanks,

an upper lifter mounted to swing through each upper curved portion ofthe channel extending from each tank to a succeeding tank,

each said lower lifter timed toswing with an upper lifter so'that whensaid lower lifter lifts film chips along their paths out of a tank theupper lifter continues to lift the film chips and transfers them alongtheir paths into the succeeding tank,and

wherein said lower lifter is provided with a pair of diametricallydisposed later-alarms and said upper lifter is provided with a singlelateral arm.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 includtending from each tankto a succeeding tank, said channel having an entrance passage,

plurality of vee-grooves formed on the opposing surfaces of said spacedwalls, each vee-groove on one wall associated with a vee-groove on theopposite wall to form a pair of opposing vee-grooves, each pair ofopposing vee-grooves forming a path through the channel for a film chip,

lower lifter mounted to swing through each lower curved portion of thechannel extending down into and out of each of said tanks,

1 upper lifter mounted to swing through each upper curved portion of thechannel extending from each tank to a succeeding tank,

ich said lower lifter timed to swing with an upper lifter so that whensaid lower lifter lifts the film chips along their paths out of a tankthe upper lifter 15 continues to lift the film chips and transfers themalong their paths into the succeeding tank, magazine for a plurality ofsaid film chips positioned over the entrance passage of said channel,gate member normally disposed to close the entrance passage of saidchannel, and

five means synchronized to move said gate member to open the entrancepassage of said channel to said magazine each time said lower lifterswings through the lower curved portion of the channel extending downinto the first tank of the series of tanks.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein said drive meansincludes a cam synchronized to rotate with said lower lifters, said camoperating to move said gate member to open the entrance passage to saidchannel each time said lower lifter swings through the lower curvedportions of said channel extending down into said first tank.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 7 includ ing a slideablestopping plate on the bottom of said magazine,

said stopping plate having an edge thereof extending under said filmchips stored in said magazine to prevent said film chips from droppingout of said magazine,

an indicating pin on said gate member,

said stopping plate having an elongated slot for receiving theindicating pin on said gate member, and an indicia on said stoppingplate adjacent the elongated slot thereof to indicate the period of timeduring the cycle of said lower rotating lifters that the edge of thestopping plate can be moved from under said film chips so that the filmchips will be dropped out of the magazine when the gating member clearsthe entrance passage to said channel.

1. A processor for film chips comprising: a series of tanks; transportmeans including a rear vertical wall having a pair of parallel, spaced,walls laterally extending therefrom, said spaced walls having curvedportions thereof extending down into and up out of each said tanks andcurved portions thereof extending from each tank over into thesucceeding tank; a plurality of laterally spaced grooves formed on theopposing surfaces of said spaced walls, each groove on one wallassociated with a groove on the opposite wall to form a pair of opposinggrooves lying in a common vertical plane extending parallel to the planeof said rear vertical wall and forming a path through the spaced wallsfor a vertically oriented film chip; a lower laterally extending armhaving a radial member mounted for rotation about an axis disposednormal to the rear vertical wall and substantially at the center of eachcurved portion of the spaced walls extending down into and up out ofeach of said tanks; and an upper laterally extending arm having a radialmember mounted for rotation about an axis disposed normal to the rearvertical wall and substantially at the center of each curved portion ofthe spaced walls extending from a tank over into a succeeding tank; eachsaid lower arm synchronized to rotate with an upper arm so that whensaid lower arm lifts film chips along their paths out of a tank theupper arm continues to lift the film chips and transfers them alongtheir paths into the succeeding tank.
 2. A processor for dental filmchips comprising: a development compartment, a series of tanks in saiddevelopment compartment, a channel formed of a pair of laterallyextending, parallel, spaced walls having lower curved portions extendingdown into and out of each of said tanks and upper curved portionsextending from each tank to the succeeding tank, a plurality ofvee-grooves formed on the opposing surfaces of said spaced walls, eachvee-groove on one wall associated with a vee-groove on the opposite wallto form a pair of opposing vee-grooves lying in the same vertical planeforming a path through the channel for a vertically oriented film chip,a lower lifter mounted for rotation about an axis substantially at thecenter of each lower curved portion of the channel extending down intoand out of each of said tanks, and an upper lifter mounted for rotationabout an axis substantially at the center of each upper curved portionof the channel extending from each tank to a succeeding tank, each saidlower lifter timed to rotate with an upper lifter so that when saidlower lifter lifts film chips along their paths out of a tank the upperlifter continues to lift the film chips and transfers them along theirpaths into the succeeding tank.
 3. The invention in accordance withclaim 2 including a drying compartment, a roller drive assembly foradvancing said film chips along paths extending in parallel through saiddrying compartment, said roller drive assembly comprising a plurality ofsets of spaced upper and lower rollers, each said roller having aplurality of vee-grooves thereon, each vee-groove on the upper rollerbeing associated with a vee-groove on the lower roller to form a pair ofopposing vee-grooves, and each said roller rotatably mounted to rotateon an axis normal to the paths of advancement of said film chips, thespacing of successive sets of said rollers along said paths being lessthan the length of a film chip, and each pair of opposing vee-grooves onthe upper and lower rollers providing for engaging the upper and loweredges of a film chip to thereby simultaneously advance the film chipswhich have been transferred in parallel into said roller drive assemblyby the upper lifter associated with the last tank in the series of tanksin said development compartment.
 4. The invention in accordance withclaim 3 including an upper gear on the eNd of each of said upperrollers, a lower gear on the end of each of said lower rollers, an upperidler gear for coupling adjacent upper gears together, a lower idlergear for coupling adjacent lower gears together, each said upper idlergear being further coupled to engage a lower idler gear, and a powergear coupled to engage a gear on the end of said rollers.
 5. A processorfor dental film chips comprising: a development compartment, a series oftanks in said development compartment, a channel formed of a pair oflaterally extending, parallel, spaced walls having lower curved portionsextending down into and out of each of said tanks and upper curvedportions extending from each tank to the succeeding tank, a plurality ofvee-grooves formed on the opposing surfaces of said spaced walls, eachvee-groove on one wall associated with a vee-groove on the opposite wallto form a pair of opposing vee-grooves, each pair of opposingvee-grooves on said spaced walls lying in the same vertical planeforming a path through the channel for a vertically oriented film chip,a lower lifter mounted to swing through each lower curved portion of thechannel extending down into and out of each of said tanks, an upperlifter mounted to swing through each upper curved portion of the channelextending from each tank to a succeeding tank, each said lower liftertimed to swing with an upper lifter so that when said lower lifter liftsfilm chips along their paths out of a tank the upper lifter continues tolift the film chips and transfers them along their paths into thesucceeding tank, and wherein said lower lifter is provided with a pairof diametrically disposed lateral arms and said upper lifter is providedwith a single lateral arm.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 5including drive means for rotating said lower and upper lifters, saiddrive means providing for rotating said upper lifters four times fasterthan said lower lifters.
 7. A processor for dental film chipscomprising: a development compartment, a series of tanks in saiddevelopment compartment, a channel formed of a pair of spaced wallshaving lower curved portions extending down into and out of each of saidtanks and upper curved portions extending from each tank to a succeedingtank, said channel having an entrance passage, a plurality ofvee-grooves formed on the opposing surfaces of said spaced walls, eachvee-groove on one wall associated with a vee-groove on the opposite wallto form a pair of opposing vee-grooves, each pair of opposingvee-grooves forming a path through the channel for a film chip, a lowerlifter mounted to swing through each lower curved portion of the channelextending down into and out of each of said tanks, an upper liftermounted to swing through each upper curved portion of the channelextending from each tank to a succeeding tank, each said lower liftertimed to swing with an upper lifter so that when said lower lifter liftsthe film chips along their paths out of a tank the upper liftercontinues to lift the film chips and transfers them along their pathsinto the succeeding tank, a magazine for a plurality of said film chipspositioned over the entrance passage of said channel, a gate membernormally disposed to close the entrance passage of said channel, anddrive means synchronized to move said gate member to open the entrancepassage of said channel to said magazine each time said lower lifterswings through the lower curved portion of the channel extending downinto the first tank of the series of tanks.
 8. The invention inaccordance with claim 7 wherein said drive means includes a camsynchronized to rotate with said lower lifters, said cam operating tomove said gate member to open the entrance passage to said channel eachtime said lower lifter swings through the lower curved portions of saidchannel extending down into said first tank.
 9. The invEntion inaccordance with claim 7 including a slideable stopping plate on thebottom of said magazine, said stopping plate having an edge thereofextending under said film chips stored in said magazine to prevent saidfilm chips from dropping out of said magazine, an indicating pin on saidgate member, said stopping plate having an elongated slot for receivingthe indicating pin on said gate member, and an indicia on said stoppingplate adjacent the elongated slot thereof to indicate the period of timeduring the cycle of said lower rotating lifters that the edge of thestopping plate can be moved from under said film chips so that the filmchips will be dropped out of the magazine when the gating member clearsthe entrance passage to said channel.